BVISO-DEMA, Flags flying at the beaches this weekend in the BVI

Well for those lucky duckies (or is that fishies?) who are going to be attending DEMA (Dive Equipment Manufacturers Association) in Las Vegas this year, a few of our dive operators will be on hand with some great prize give-aways, and a Painkiller Social Event.
We will not be at DEMA this year. For some stupid reason, I always pick the years to go that it is at Orlando, which we have been to a billion times. My husband has never been to Vegas (although in all truth he is much more interested in going to the Hoover Dam then actual Las Vegas!)
DEMA Social Event Join other dive professionals at this fun event.
The British Virgin Islands Tourist Board will be hosting an Appreciation Hour at the 2008 DEMA Show on Thursday, October 23rd from 3 to 5pm at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Attendees are invited to join the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board, Trimarine, Sail Caribbean Divers and Captain Collin Aldridge at Booth # 2621 to enjoy some BVI treats as a token of appreciation for their patronage of the destination over the years.
The destination’s signature drink the BVI Pain killer, a favorite among avid sailing and dive enthusiasts will be served while industry partners and DEMA attendees mingle and enjoy themselves.
DEMA attendees are also invited to take this opportunity to enter into the British Virgin Islands 2008 DEMA show giveaways featuring the following 3 dive packages:

• ONE BVI DELUXE SCUBA DIVING PASSPORT including
• Three days of all inclusive Diving
• 6 dives on 6 World-class BVI Dive sites!!!
• Value: $595.00



and
• BEST OF THE BVI “OUT-ISLANDS” Dive Package includes
• 2 days of Scuba Diving
• 2 Nights accommodations on the beautiful island of Jost Van Dyke!!
• Value: $1295.00



And
• BVI DIVE EXTRAVAGANZA
• 10 dives for 1 person
• Expires Nov 1st 2009
• Value $465



For more information on the British Virgin Islands Appreciation Hour, please contact the General Manager of North American Sales and Operations of the BVI Tourist Board, Ms. Perla George at pgeorge@bvitourism.com.

We enjoy walking around DEMA and seeing what is happening, but after a day or two I quickly become overwhelmed by all the colors, lights, and noise (yep, I do live on a boat, anything above the hum of the generator and I get cranky) I question what DEMA will be like this year with the economy in shambles the way it is. I refuse to put up any more pictures of me sewing! We have finished sewing the awnings and they do look bright and shiny and very clean, the husband is putting a billion grommets in them on land and I cleaned all the stainless frame, so hopefully they will be back on somewhat by tonight. We try and get them down and up as quickly as possible as it quickly ruins all our varnish in the cockpit with them down. Also takes us about 15 minutes to cut the awnings down and about three days to string them back up again. The awning is always the very last thing to be cut down when we are getting ready for a hurricane, in case it is really no necessary.

So, instead of silly sewing pictures I will put up a few of my favorite pictures of fish for the weekend. This is a nice little Golden Eel..

And my favorite, TURTLES!

Not a great picture, but I have a hard time getting good pictures of Barracudas...

And this is a picture I took a few years ago, it was at Watermelon Cay on St John and it just ended up looking very "surreal". One of my favorite sunset pictures and a nice changes from the every night shot of the sunset over West End this week!


Last but not least, we received the first "beach warnings" we have had for awhile for this week, we are expected to have a fairly strong tropical wave come through.
Beach Safety Flags Friday 10th October 2008
Due to N Swell, tracking NE through Saturday and Sunday (expected to pick up slightly by tomorrow and decrease by Sunday).
Red Flags are flying at Lambert Beach & Long Bay (Tortola).
Yellow Flags are flying at The Baths NPT & Smuggler's Cove.
Purple Flags are flying at The Baths NPT.
Lifeguards are on duty at Josiah's Bay 9.30am to 5.30pm